Chapter Text
The best time in Tomie’s relationship with Richard, weirdly enough, is when they were broken up. She still loved him, that’s why his betrayal and sense of entitlement hurt so much. They still had chemistry, oh, that one angry romp was good but such a mistake. He needed to learn that his thoughtless actions had consequences.
Then. Then he learned the hard way that shit happens, that sometimes horrible things no one deserved pile up unprovoked. Chubby died, Siri disappeared, Duke got benched, she never understood what the deal was with this other friend, only that she needed to drop the subject.
He needed help, he needed support. She still liked him, she was still his friend. She may or may not be his lover again, at this time she hadn’t decided yet. It wasn’t pity, it was empathy. What a nice change to have Richard undemanding for once; no shallow self-pitying, no infuriating attempt of manipulation on his part. It was all on her to initiate gentle hugs and soft words and light kisses and tender rebuilding of his badly battered sense of self-worth.
She was sorry he had to suffer so much, but she sort of liked him better all humbled...